Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) ca

Subject: Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) call on govt to telecast Myanmar documentary.
SDP, PKMS call on govt to telecast Myanmar documentary
for S'poreans to watch
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THE Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the Singapore Malay
National Organisation
(PKMS) yesterday sent an open letter to Prime
Minister Goh Chok Tong on the alleged
Myanmar drug affair.
The one-page letter called on the Government to
telecast in full Singapore Sling: GIC, a
television documentary aired in Australia last
month, for Singaporeans to watch for themselves.
It was signed by PKMS deputy president Mohammed
Aziz Ibrahim and SDP assistant
secretary-general Kwan Yue Keng.
The two opposition parties also wanted the
Government to answer five questions raised at an
SDP-PKMS press conference last Thursday:
Is it true that Myanmar drug lord Lo Hsin Han is
allowed to move freely in and out of
Singapore?
Is it true that Mr Steven Law, Mr Lo's son, is
denied entry into the US because of suspected
drug-dealing? If so, has the Singapore Government
bothered to investigate Mr Law's
background?
Is it true that the Government of Singapore
Investment Corporation (GIC) funds are invested in
the Myanmar Fund (an investment fund for projects
in the country) linked with Asia World Co
Ltd?
Will the Government state categorically that it
has nothing to do with Ince & Co, which holds
shares in the Myanmar Fund?
Will the Government state clearly that the SLORC
(State Law and Order Restoration Council
in Myanmar), with which it is doing business, is
not, directly or otherwise, helping in, or turning
a blind eye to, drug-trafficking?
Mr Mohd Aziz and Mr Kwan, accompanied by SDP
treasurer Francis Yong and PKMS
youth movement head Ishak Haroun, delivered the
letter to police officers at the Istana gate off
Cavenagh Road at 12.30 pm. SDP secretary-general
Chee Soon Juan was not present. The
four men had wanted to see the PM, but were told
by policemen on duty that the latter would
receive the document. They appeared surprised on
hearing that Mr Goh was away in
Cambodia.
Mr Mohd Aziz, the spokesman, was asked by
reporters whether the SDP and PKMS would
call for a Commission of Inquiry, but he was
pulled away by his colleagues and declined
comment. The four then drove off in their car.
The Government investigated and denied all the
"preposterous" allegations that GIC had links
with Mr Lo through its Myanmar investments. The
Government statement, issued last Saturday,
answered some questions posed again by the SDP
and PKMS yesterday:
GIC's investment in the Myanmar Fund was
"completely open and above board". The fund's
stakes in two hotels and a company are
straightforward investments in bona fide commercial
projects.
The fund, launched in 1994, is managed by Kerry
Investment Management (Jersey) Ltd,
owned by a Hongkong firm belonging to the Robert
Kuok Group. GIC holds a 21.5 per cent
stake worth $10 million.
GIC keeps its securities with custodian banks
worldwide, such as Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company in New York, and Ince & Co was set up by
this firm to hold its Myanmar shares.
In another letter yesterday, sent to The Straits
Times and Lianhe Zaobao, Dr Chee also called
for an uncensored telecast of the documentary.
"I am confident to let Singaporeans be my judge.
Is the PAP prepared to do the same?" he
wrote.
He denied he was a traitor, which he said the
People's Action Party was "doing its utmost" to
make him out to be.
[Straits Times, 19 December 1996].
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